Machine for capping tack heads



28, E937. N. H. ANDERSON MACHINE FOR CAPPING TACKHEADS Filed June 12, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 N3 #3 w: o m: R m I n .q i fi m 5 m v mg wfi H aw N am. NE

2 U AN: 8. M

N. H. ANDERSON 2,103,508

MACHINE FOR CAPPING TACK HEADS Filed June 12, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 NVENTOR 6- NIL5 H.Anderson {K 1 I 3. HIS NEY N. H. ANDERSON 2,103,508

MACHINE FOR CAPPING TACK HEADS Filed June 12,.1936 a Sheets-Sheet s W! M I I N-VENTOR 77 83 8? 84 NILS H.Anderson Patented Dec. 28, 1937 it UNlTEoflsTA-T ES PATENT OFF-ICE;

2,103,508 MAGHINE FOR CAPPING TACK HEADS Nils-H; Anderson, Shelton," Conn, assignor to The shelton Tack-Cm, Shelton, -COI1IL; a corporation of Connecticut Application June .12, 1936,'Serial.No. 84,792

8 Claims. ((31. -158) My present invention relates to capping-machines, andmore particularly to animpro'ved} machine for applying and attaching caps .of relatively thin material tothe heads of tacks.

perature is relatively brittle. The brittleness of r such material renders it imperative that it be subjected wheat for the purpose of 'placingthe' same in a semi-plastic condition in order to apply the same successfully to the head of a tack. Such material is ordinarily provided in the form of cups or caps, into which the head of the tack may be-fitted and the skirt portion of the cup or cap rolled or crimped around the periphery of the head'of the tack.

In my present invention I have devised means for subjecting the cup to a heating operation for a relatively long period of time before the actual attaching operation takes place, with theresult 3O that the cup is in the proper semi-plastic condition prior to being acted upon by the attaching punch and die.

In carrying out my invention, I preferably prefabricate the caps of celluloid or equivalent mate- 35 rial and likewise prefabrlcate the thumb tacks and place the caps and thumb tacks eachiin a separate magazine from which they are fed to a part of the machine where the cap is positioned in operative relation to a heating device and is married intermittently onward toward the cooperating punch and die, and during such passage has associatedtherewith a thumb tack which is placed in position with its head within'the cap. When the cap is positioned, and after the proper lapse of timeto enable the cap to be brought to the propersemi-plastic condition, the associated cap. and tack head are brought into association 1 withcooperating punches and dies which roll or crimp the skirt of the cap about theperipheral edge of the tack head;

A feature of my invention'is an improved "device for applying. ornamental caps to the heads oi tacks.

5 A feature of: my invention is an improved de- It has become customary in recent years to vice for operatively associating a cap with'a tack, to the head ofv which tackthecapis to be attached. I

A feature of my. invention is .an improved device in which capsof celluloid or'equivalent mate- 5 V rial'are associated with a tack head, andwherein the cap. is brought to a semi-plastic condition prior to the attaching oi the cap'toth'e head,

Other features will beapparent as the description of theinvention progresses.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating one form of myimproved device-1 Fig. -1 is a front elevation of a tackhead cap ping machine.

Fig. 2 is'a sectional plan view on: the line 2-"-2 J of Fi 1. V

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig; 1, illustrating the form of chute leading from'the' tack magazine to the tack positioningmeans.

Fig; 4 is a section on the line l i, of Fig. 1, 2O.

illustrating the chute leading from the cap magazine to the cap positioning .rneans and illustrat ing the means for positively moving the caps along and through the chute.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the upper right 5.

hand end of 'Fig. 1,

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the drive mechanism shown at the lower left hand corner of Fig.1, and illustrating themeans for'varying the speed .of

the power applying shaft.

Fig. ,7 is a sectional elevation taken on the line l -l of Fi l.

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail of an enlarged scale showing an assembled cap. and thumb tack. in

positionrelative to the attaching punch and die 4 and'prior to the attaching operation.

Fig. 9 is .a View similar to .the View shown in Fig.'.8"and showing the cooperating punch and die inpositlon with respect to the cap andthumb tack at the completion of the cap attaching op- 40 eration.

Fig. v10 is a plan. view showing the platen of themachine and certain parts carried thereby, with: the means, for positioning a tack in a cap in initial position. 7 p

Fig. 11. is a View similar to Fig. 10 and showing the tack positioningmeans in final positionc 1 Fig. 12 is a section taken on the line i2|2 of Fig. 10 and integraltherewithat its upper end .a table or platen H of any desired shape, but preferably rectangular. At one end of the platen H, the rear end as viewed in Figs. 1 and '7 is a bearing standard l2. In this bearing standard l2 are aligned bearings l3, spaced apart from each. other and in such bearings is rotatably mounted a shaft l4. At one end of the shaft l4 adjacent to the front bearing 3 is formed a crank arm l5 and at the other end of such front bearing l3 and on the shaft I4 is secured a collar It. This construction prevents axial movement of the shaft M in its bearings.

The shaft l4 extends rearwardly beyond the rear bearing I3 and at its rear end has secured thereto a hand wheel I! and by means of which shaft 4 may be rotated manually in either direction. Adjacent to the hand wheel l1 and keyed to the shaft I4 so as to be rotatable therewith but slidably axially thereon is a sleeve I8, to the front face of which is attached a clutch member l9. On the shaft |4, between the clutch member I!) and the rear bearing I3 is a sleeve 29, such sleeve being rotatably mounted on the shaft |4. Formed integral with the sleeve 20 is a V-pulley 2|, and attached to such sleeve adjacent to the clutch member I9 is a pulley 22, such pulley having a face 23 thereof cooperating with the clutch member i9.

Secured to one of the side faces of the platen H in any convenient manner is a bracket 24, in which is secured a shaft 25. On the shaft 25, and within the limits of the bracket 24, is rotatably mounted a sleeve 26 through which extends a set screw 21 and by means of which the sleeve- 26 may be adjustably secured to the shaft 25. Extending radially outward from the sleeve 26, in alignment with each other, are spaced arms 28 such arms being provided at their outer ends with aligned bearings 29. In the bearings 29 is rotatably mounted a shaft 30 to which is secured, between the bearings 29, a pulley 3|.

The pulley 3| is in alignment with the pulley 22 on the shaft l4 and over such pulleys runs a driving belt 32. Secured to one end of the shaft 30 is a friction disk 33, which is engaged by a friction cone 34, carried by the drive shaft of a prime mover, such as an electric motor 35. The motor 35 is adjustably mounted on a base 36, which in turn is adjustably mounted on the shaft 25.

By properly adjusting the motor 35 on the base 36 any desired speed of rotation of the shaft 35 and therefore the pulley 22 may be obtained. When power is applied to the motor 35 it is apparent that the pulley 22 and sleeve 20 will rotate freely on the shaft 4.

Associated with the sleeve I8 is the forked end 31 of an arm 38 of a bell crank lever which is pivotally mounted on a shaft 39 secured to a bracket 40 attached to or formed integral with the platen The other arm 4| of such bell crank lever is pivotally attached at its free end to the upper end of a clutch trip rod 42 which extends downwardly to a treadle (not shown). This is the usual construction in this type of machine. Downward movement of the clutch trip rod 42 will rotate the bell crank lever about the shaft 39 and will cause a movement of the clutch member l9, axially of the shaft l4 toward and into engagement with the clutch face 23 of the pulley 22, and therefore the power transmitted from the motor 35 to the pulley 22 will be utilized to rotate shaft M in the proper direction.

Formed on the vertical face of the standard i2 is a vertically arranged slideway 43 in which is slidably mounted a ram or plunger 44 carrying at its lower end a forming die 45 which will be hereinafter described in detail. Secured to the rear face of the ram or plunger 44 by screws 46, are cam plates 47 and 48, spaced apart from each other to define a cam race 49, in which works a cam roller 50, carried by the crank arm i5 on the shaft M. This cam race 49 is so formed as to permit reciprocatory movement of the ram or plunger 44 in the slideways 43.

The shape of such cam race 49 is clearly shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and on inspection of such figure it will be noted that the ram or plunger 44 is in its uppermost position and that as the shaft i4 rotates the cam roller 50 will move the ram or plunger 44 downwardly until the said ram or plunger is in its lowermost position and will maintain such ram or plunger in its lowermost position until the cam roller 50 has moved from one end of the lower curved portion of the cam race 49 to the other end of such curved portion of the cam race.

Upon continued rotation of the shaft M of the cam roller will engage with the centrally arranged downwardly extending portion of element 4? and will cause a sudden upward surge of the ram or plunger 44 until the same has reached its uppermost position. The movement imparted to the ram or plunger 44 therefore is a relatively slow downward movement from its highest to its lower point, a maintenance of the ram or plunger at its lowermost position for a relatively long period of time, and a quick return of the ram to the highest point. The object of such movement will be described in detail hereinafter.

Mounted on the drive shaft I4 is a cam 5|. Formed integral with the standard |2 and at the rear thereof is a boss or lug 52, provided with a vertical perforation which is in alignment with a perforation in the table or platen H such perforations being lined with an anti-friction metal sleeve. Slidably mounted in the perforation in the boss or lug 52 and in the perforation in the platen is a shaft 54. Secured to the top end of the shaft 54 is a bearing member 55 which is provided on its inner end with a fork 55 through the members of which extends a shaft 5?. On such shaft between the members of the fork 56 is rotatably mounted a cam roller 58 which is normally in engagement with the cam 5|. Rotation of the main drive shaft l4 therefore, through the cam 5| will cause a vertical reciprocatory motion of the shaft 54 in its bearings.

Secured to the shaft 54 between the top face of the platen and the boss 52, by a screw 59, is a collar 55. Between the collar 65 and the upper face of the platen II and surrounding the shaft 54 is a coil spring 5|, which tends to keep the shaft 54 in its uppermost position with the cam roller 53 always in engagement with the cam 5|.

The cam 5| is shown in Fig. 7 with the cam roller 58 in engagement with a portion of its surface. This surface, with which the cam roller 58 is at present in engagement, is substantially cylindrical and that portion of the cam 5| shown above the main drive shaft 54 is substantially flat, and represents a segment of a cylindrical cam. Therefore, the shape of the cam 5| is such as to cause a downward movement of the shaft 54. until the cam roller engages with the cylindrical portion of such cam, whereupon the shaft 54 will be maintained stationary and in its lowermost position, until the cam roller 53 rides off the cylindrical portion, whereupon such shaft 54 will have imparted thereto, a relatively rapid upward movement, due to the tension in the coil spring 6!. In its uppermost'position, the cam roller 58 does not engage with the cam roller 5landtherefore means are provided for;

limiting the upward movement of the shaft 54-. i

This means comprises the following instrumentalities: Secured to the shaft 54 by screw 62' J is a lug 53, provided with a vertically arranged threaded hole through which is screwed the threaded'portion ofa stud 64. On the threaded portion of the stud 64, below the lug 63 is screwed a lock nut 65, which adjustably holds the stud 64 in adjusted position relative to the lug 63; The

stud 54 is providedwith an integrally formed multi-sided portion 88, to receive a wrench and by means of which the stud 64 may be rotated for adjustment purposes. The upper part of the stud 64 is. slidably mounted in a hole formed in the boss 52- and the engagement of the upper end of the stud 64 with'the bottom of the'hole, limits the upward movement of the shaft-J 54.

Secured to thetop face of the platen 1 Lin any convenient manner, is an arcuate shaped stationaryblockt'l, provided on its upper edge with-a rabbet or track 68 for purposes to be hereinafter. described. Formed in the stationaryblock 61 and in the tableo-rplaten H and in alignment 'fWith each other, isa vertical perforation in which is slidably mounted a bottom plunger 69. The lower end of the bottom plunger 59 is reduced in diameter and threaded to receive the adjusting nuts between which is positioned one end of anarm 'H. The other end of this arm H surrounds the lower end of the shaft 54 and is rigidly and adjustably secured thereto bymeans of the bolt 12. Therefore, as will be apparent from a study and inspection of Fig. '7, and assuming the: main drive shaft M to be rotating, the cam 5| engaging with the cam roller 58, will maintainthe upper end of the bottom plunger 69, substantially in the'plane of the bottom of the rabbet or groove 68 in the upper surface of the stationary block 61, as shown in Fig. 8. This condition will prevail until the cam roller 58 rides off the cylindrical portion of the cam 5|, whereupon the spring 61 will force the bottom plunger 69 upwardly'and into the position shown in Fig.

9 where it will be held with a yielding pressure 7 determined by the strength of'the spring 8|.

#Also; it will be apparent from an inspection of Fig. 7, that with the topof the bottom plunger 69 in theposition shown in such figurethat the lower end of the upper plunger 45 will be in its uppermost position, or in the position shown in Fig. 8, and that whenthe main drive shaft l4 hasrotated to bring the cylindrical portion of the cam 5| out of engagement with the cam roller 58, the crank arm l5 will be in a position 180 removed from its positio-n'shown in Fig. 7 and therefore at such time the cam roller 5U, engag- "irig with the cam race 49', will have moved the cross. head M and therefore the top plunger 45 to its lowermost position or into the position indicated in Fig; 9. The particular operation to be r on the .top face'of the platen H is a ratchet 14; r'iSecured to theetop iface-ofthe ratchet 14 by.

performed on the materials being worked upon by the top and bottom plungers 45 and 69 respectively, will be described more in detail hereinafter.

Secured in a vertical perforation in the table 1 ior platen II and extending upwardly from the upper face thereof is a shaft 13.. This shaft lies in the center .or axis of the arcuate stationary block fil. Rotatably mounted on the shaft I3 notched portion of which rides on the face of the rabbet or track 68 in the stationary block 61; The

screws 15 a notchedplateldtheperipheral notches in such plate 'Hiare indicated by the ref erence numerals-H8 and are of such dimensions 1 as to permit the lower bottom-plunger to slide 'therethrough, as shown in Fig. 9. Rotatably mounted on the shaft 13 and resting on the top of the notched-plate 16 is a circular plate 11-.

Formed integral with the circular plate 11 and extending radially outward therefrom is an arm 18 which has secured therein .a stub. shaft. 19

which extends downwardly from the under face thereof' Rotatably mounted on the'stub shaft -15 pawl 8|, which engages with the ratchet wheel" i9 and secured thereto by screw 86 is a driving M, for intermittently rotatingthe same in a counter-wise direction as viewed in Figs. 1, =10

and 11. V

Formed integral with the platen H on the up-' per face thereof is'a-boss 82, throughwhich isthreaded a stud 83 and which stud; is engaged by the end of the driving pawl 8i: to limit the forward movement of such driving pawl. 'The stud 83 is adjustable in the boss 82 and after adjustment li s held firmly in positionby means of the locking nut .84, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11. The

spring .85 constantly urges the driving pawl 8| into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet i4.

Secured to the upper end of the shaft 13, in any convenient manner, is a notched collar 8'5, which receives one end of a spring 81 surrounding the shaft 73 between the collarBB and the top surface of the plate 7?, and the other end of such spring 81 engages in aperforation I88 in'the plate 11' The spring Blis tensioned to constantly'urge the plate H to rotate in a clock-wise direction, as viewed in the drawings and thereby always tend to bringthe driving pawl 8! into operative posiably mounted a stub shaft 82 formed on the lower.

end of a universal'or socket bearing member 93. Formed integral with the standard 12 on the forwardface thereof and adjacent to the slide.

. way 13 is a bearing standard 94 provided .Witha shaft 95, such shaft being secured thereto by nut' 9ii. Ro'tatably mounted on'the shaft .95 is.

Also formed integral a i a lever 91 which extends. downwardly and has at I its lower end a spherical head or knob 98 which rests in the socket member 83; shaft 95, at the end remote from the bearing Secured to the i member 9 3, is a dislr 89, provided with a notch to receive one end of a'coil spring I; which is fixed to and surrounds the stationary shaft 95.,

and the other end of this spring engages in a hole in the lever 91. The spring I00 is so placed as to constantly urge the lower end of the lever 91 7 toward the standard I2, as shown in Fig. '7, or in other words, to constantly urge the plate 1! to rotate in a clock-wise direction as viewedin Figs.-

10 and 11, specifically.

' 'Rotatably mounted on a shaft lfii secured to the. side of the. lever 91, andintermediate the? endsofssuchlever, is a camroller =lfl2,.which.is

always in engagement with a screw IOI upon which is mounted a cam plate I03. The cam plate I03 is secured to the front face of the cross head 44 by screws I04. As the spring I00 always keeps the cam roller I02 in engagement with the cam plate I03, it is apparent that an oscillatory motion will be imparted to the lower end of the lever 91 by the reciprocatory motion of the cross head 44, and this oscillatory motion of the lever 91 will impart an oscillatory motion to the plate 11 on the shaft 13, resulting in an intermittent step-by-step rotary movement being imparted to the ratchet 14 by the driving pawl 8|, and because of the presence of the holding pawl 89, no retrograde movement of the ratchet wheel 10 can take place.

The mechanism above described as being on the upper surface of the table or platen II and comprising the stationary block 61 and rotary notched plate 16, and plate 11 are utilized in connection with material feeding means to position the material as it is received from the various magazines which deliver the material to the upper and lower plungers 45 and 09, respectively, where the assembling operation takes place, after which the assembled material is fed to a discharge chute.

The material to be operated upon comprises the usual well known metallic thumb tack, and caps of celluloid or similar material to be attached thereto, but obviously the invention is adapted for the capping of a large number of articles other than a thumb tack. Therefore, the description of my improved machine, while it is given in connection with the operation of placing caps on thumb tacks, such described operation is for illustrative purposes only, and I am not to be limited in the interpretation of claims covering the novel features of my machine to its use as a tack capping instrumentality only.

Preferably, I arrange the magazines for holding the material to be fed to the various instrumentalities carried by the platen I I, so as to take advantage to as great an extent as possible of the force of gravity to assist in feeding material to the point of delivery. In the case of the caps, however, I do not depend entirely on the force of gravity for feeding the same to the point of de livery, but in addition thereto utilize compressed air, to positively force the caps along the chute leading from the cap magazine to the point of delivery.

The magazines referred to are mounted on the top of a bracket I05, which is secured, as by the bolts I06, to the table or platen I I. Such bracket I05 is preferably located at one side of the table or platen I I so as to leave the front of the mechanism carried by the platen II accessible for inspection, adjustment, repair and replacement. Bolted to the upper surface of the bracket I05, is a bracket I01 and at the other end of the bracket I05 is secured a bracket I00. On the bracket I01 is to be mounted the magazine for the tacks, while on the bracket I03 is to be mounted the magazine for the cups or caps.

Referring specifically to the bracket I01, there is formed therein a bearing I 09 in which is rotatably mounted a shaft IIO. Secured to the inner end of the shaft H0 is a friction plate II I, while secured to the outer end of such shaft is a hollow, relatively cone shaped, open ended tack magazine I I3, having its larger end flanged as indicated by the reference numeral II I,'and such flanged larger end is seated in a recess I I5 formed in the outer face of the bracket I01. Formed integral with the bracket I01 and at the inner top end thereof is a funnel or hopper I I6 which extends through the wall of the bracket I01 and into the space within the cone shaped magazine I I3. This funnel or hopper I I6 is utilized to receive the tacks, and to guide the same into the magazine II3.

At the lower end of the outer face of the bracket I01 and leading into the cone shaped magazine I I3 is an exit chute I I1, through which the tacks are fed. Secured to the exit chute H1 is a discharge track or trough I I8 which has its exit end terminating adjacent to the track 68 in the upper inner surface of the stationary block 01, as clearly shown in Fig. 13. The flange I I4 of the magazine I I 3 is provided with a plurality of spaced slits I and such slits, as the magazine II3 rotates, will engage with the shank end of individual tacks II9 from the plurality of the tacks in the magazine I I3, and will feed the same to the exit chute II1, through which they will fall by gravity into the track or trough I I8 which may be of any desired form, but preferably of the form shown in Figs. 11 and 13, where it will be noted that the main portion of the trough or track II 8 has a groove I2I therein large enough to easily and comfortably receive the head of the tack I I9, and that plates I22 are secured to the track II8 by screws I23 to define the space between them sufiiciently wide to permit the tacks I I9 to move easily along the track and prevent the heads of such tacks from falling out of the track I I8.

The magazine for the caps or cups I is quite similar to the magazine for the tacks and comprises a cone shaped magazine I20, secured to the rotating shaft I25, mounted in the bracket I08 and provided on its inner end with a friction plate I 26. There is connected with and forming part of the bracket I08, and therefore the magazine I20, a funnel or hopper I21 through which the caps or cups I30 pass to enter the rotating magazine I 25. Also, there is provided an exit chute I28 at the lower end of the bracket I08, which cooperates with a plurality of depressions I 29, formed in the material at the open end of the magazine I20, such depressions being of a size to receive the cups I30, (see Figs. 10 and 12) and separate such cups from the plurality of cups within the magazine I24, thus delivering the same to the exit chute I28.

Secured to exit chute I28 is the upper end of a chute or track I3I which extends downwardly and has its lower end terminating adjacent to the track 68 on the arcuate block 61, as clearly shown in Figs. 10 and 12. The chute or track I3! is similar in construction to the track or chute H8 and is such as to permit the cups or caps to be arranged therein in succession and to be freely movable or slidable therein and prevented from accidental removal therefrom.

Because of the extremely light character of the material of the caps or cups I30 and particularly because of the extreme lightness of each individual cap or cup, I find it preferable to utilize mechanical means for assisting the separation of the caps I30 from each other within the magazine I24, and at the point of exit I28, as well as to mechanically assist in the passage of the caps or cups downwardly along the track or chute I3I. Preferably, this mechanical means takes the form of air under pressure, and for this purpose I have utilized an air compressing means, mounted on and driven by the driving mechanism of the capping device. It will be possible and sometimes desirable to utilize air .pressure from a'sourceremotejfrom the machine but I preferably utilize themeans shown inlthe drawings, as I am enabled to obtain the exact degrees of pressure-which is relatively small "which is necessary to feed the. caps or cups I30 along the track I3I r by the cross head MI.

This means comprises an air pump I32 mounted on a bracket I33,- secured to the table or platen II. The piston rod ltd of the air pump extends upwardly and is secured by nuts I35 to an arm |36, in turn secured to and driven At the exhaust end of the air pump I32 are air-pipes ISL-I38 and I39.

The pipe I31 leads to the funnel or hopper iii.

- magazine I24, just above the discharge chute I28 thereof. The pipe- I39 leads to a nozzle MI! The pipe I38 leads to a point adjacent tothe arranged at the lower end of the track |3| adjacent to thejunctu're thereof with the arcuate stationary block 61, which I have found to be the best position to mechanically urge the caps "or cups I39 into operative position with respect to the instrumentalities employed to position of the same relative' to the tacks I I9.

In the brackets I01 and I08, and at opposite ends of the bracket |05.is arranged a bore I II in the bracket I01 and a bore I42 in the bracket :ItB. In the bore MI is slidably mounted a bar {I43 and in the bore 142 a bar In is slidably mounted. The outer ends of the bars I43 and I44 are forked, as shown in Fig. 1, to receive bearing members I45 and M6, in which isrotatably mounted a shaft I41. Such shaft I41 has secured thereto friction disks, one of, which, the

friction .disk Hi3, engages with the friction .plate i! and the other, the frictiondisk ltihengages withthe friction plate I26. Secured to the shaft M1, adjacent to the bore I II is a V-pulley I59, I

which is in alignment with the V-pulley 2|,

. formed on the collar. 20 and over the pulleys 2| and I56 runs a belt II, .This mechanism is utilized torotate. the shafts III! and I25. of the tack and cap magazines respectively, and the rate ofrotation of the shafts IIEl-and I25. may be. adjustedby altering the relativepositionof the friction disks I 48 and 149 withrespect to axes of. rotation of t-hefriction plates 1 II and I26.

The ratchet wheel 14; is intermittently rotated step-by-step by means of the drivingpawl 8|,

as above described, and at the end of each intermittent step-by-step movement the'ratchet wheel --14 is'held stationaryby theholdinggjpawl 89. The notched wheel .16 is so' positioned relative to the teethofthe' ratchetwheel I l, and so positioned relative to-the exit end of the chute |3| for he cups |30,that such cups I30 will move in succession 'out1of the chute |3| and into the notches in the. notched plate 16 as such plate is intermittently rotated. In other words, the

normal position ofv the. notched plate 16 with respect totheexitend of the'chute .IZI, is shown in Fig. 11, whereit will be seen that the cup I36 at'the exit end of the chute I3I will have been fed into a notch 11% in the notched plate I6, which is now in alignment with such chute I3 I As the 'plate'l'l is oscillated ontheshaft 13, the driving: pawl Ill-will engage with the ratchet wheel 14 and will rotate the notched plate 16 d in a counter-clock-wise direction; rotating the same'from the: position shown-in Fig. 11 to that ,shown-firiFig. l0, whereit will beapparent that the-cupISU-above referred towill have been --.moved inacounter-clock-wise direction a dis- :tance equal to the space of one tooth of :the

and preferably ferrous-material suchas iron .-At the end thereof and adjacent to andbeneath" -the-chute IS! a hole I53-is providedand such holeacts as a receptacle for holding theiheater element IS, preferably of the electric resistance sirable or'necessary;

whereupon the then :lowest one .ofthe. cups"|3|l will move into the aligned notch I16. I?

It will thusbe apparentthat as an intermittent plate" :16, thus'permitting the next succeeding notch 'lflfizin the. notched .platelfi to be moved into alignment of 'the'exit endofthe chute I 3|,

step-by-step rotary movement, in a counterclock-wise direction, is imparted tothe plate 16 thenotches I16 will be successively filled by the cups 638, andsuch cups will be moved along the rabbet 68 in the stationary block 61 from the exit end of the chute I 3|, as shown in .Figs. and 11, to the perforation I52 formed in the .table or platen II, whereupon the'cups I30 will successively drop off the rabbet 68 and out of the notches I16 in the notched plate 16 and into andthrough the perforation I52.

. It willbe apparent thatthis intermittentstep- V by stepmovementof the notched plate 16 with respect to. any particular cup I occupies a con- 'siderablespace. of time, andsuchtime is utilized \..to place.the cups I30 in a semi-plastic condition,

in. order that they may be successively andsuccessfully operated upon by the dies; and punches -Without injury to the material of which-they arecornposed; I accomplish this in the followingmanner: d

The stationary block 61 is bulky andof solid type and power for heating the same isobtained from a suitable source of power (not shownlby --means ofthe conductors I55. Thisheater I54 has'been found amply sufficient to maintain the stationary block 61 at the proper temperature to satisfactorily condition the cups I30 in their travel along the rabbet- 68 from thechute 'I3Iiiito the perforation I52. I am not to-be limitedto a singleheater as shown in the drawings, and

particularly in Fig. 12, but may utilize two or moreofsuch heaters as maybe considered de- The chute- I I8, through which is fed by ravyity the thumb tacksllspin succession, asshown in Figs. l.,1=10,"11 and 13, is positioned between exit endof the chute |3| and the positions of the-bottom plunger 69- and the top plunger 45.

' Securedto the oscillatingplate 11 byscrews 156 is a plate 151, folded over upon itself at|58 as shown in Figs. l0, l1 and.l3 and the folded over portion is cut away, asxindicated by the Fig. 13. Also the lower edge of the outer end of I58 is'concentric with the peripheral edgeof the oscillating cylindrical plate 11 and defines, with such plate 11, a passagewayor guide for guiding the thumb tack IIS, with the pin portion thereof extending'upwardly, as shown in -Fig. 13. The lower-end IE9 is provided'with a bias-cutI-Iill; This bias-cutis shown in Figs. 10 and ILL-and its entrance end is shownvto be in alignment with thejpin portion of the thumb.

tack IIil'when the plate I51 is in the position shown in Fig; 10, at this time such bias-cut I60 is'in a position to engage with one of the pin i portions of'the tacks H9 and to force such tacks downwardly to the exit end of such bias-cut as;

the plate I51 is moved from the position shown in Fig. 10 to the position shown in Fig. 11, where it will be seen that the tack II9 being then operated upon has its head portion positioned within one of the caps or cups I30 which rests in one of the notches of the notched plate IS.

The cylindrical oscillating plate 11 has its peripheral edge supporting the tack portion of the tacks H9 and such supporting peripheral edge is made available until the tack H9, positioned within the cup I30, is positioned relative to the upper and lower plungers 69 and 45 respectively. The cylindrical plate I! is rotatable with respect to the notched plate I6 and on reference to Fig. 10 it will be noted that the peripheral edge of the plate 11 supports the tack IIQ prior to the operation of attaching the cup I thereto. The peripheral edge of the plate I! is cut away as indicated by the reference numeral I 6 I,for the purpose of providing clearance for the upper and lower plungers above referred to. As the plate 11 moves from the position shown in Fig. 10 to the position shown in Fig. 11, it will be noted that a clear passage is afforded by the cut away portion I 6| for the upper plunger 45.

At this particular instant, the main drive shaft I4 is in the position shown in Fig. '7, with the crank I5 in its uppermost position and with the cam 5| in such a position that the cylindrical portion thereof is in its lowermost position. As a consequence, the cross-head 44 is in its uppermost position and therefore the upper plunger is in its uppermost position, or in the position shown in Fig. 7, and particularly in Fig. 8.

Also, because of the position of the cylindrical portion of the cam 5!, the shaft 54 is in its lowermost position and therefore the lower plunger 69 is in its lowermost position, with the upper surface thereof substantially coincident with the rabbet 68, as shown in Fig. 8. Also, the plate I! has been rotated through the space of one tooth so as to bring a cup I30 and a tack II9 nesting therein into position at the top end of the lower plunger 69, as shown in Figs. 8 and 10.

The main shaft I4 continuing to rotate will bring the cam. roller into engagement with the cam race 49 in such a manner as to move the cross-head 44 downwardly. Such rotation also rotates the cam 5| with respect to the cam roller 58. As the cross head 44 moves downwardly, the

cam roller I02 on the arm 91 will ride down on r line of travel of the upper plunger 45, which moves downwardly from the position shown in Figs. '7 and 8 and toward the position shown in Fig. 9. As the shaft I4 continues its rotation and the top plunger 45 approaches its lowermost position, or the position shown in Fig. 9, the cam roller 58 will ride oif the cylindrical portion of the cam 5 I, whereupon the spring BI, surrounding the shaft 54, will move such shaft upwardly, causing simultaneously an upward movement of the lower plunger 69, which thereupon moves from the position shown in Fig. 8 to the position shown in Fig. 9. Such movement causes the peripheral edge of the skirt portion of the cup I30 to be crimped or curled about the peripheral edge of the tack II9, being assisted in performing such 7 operation by the pattern cut on the lower end of the upper plunger 45.

The top plunger 45 is provided with an axial bore in which is slidably mounted a plunger 45a provided with a bore 455 which when the plunger 45 is moved downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 8 to the position shown in Fig. 9 will allow the pin portion of the thumb tack H9 to be housed therein as clearly shown in Fig. 9. The plunger 45a is resiliently mounted in the plunger 45 by means of a spring 450 and which spring constantly urges the plunger 45a downwardly to the lowest limit of its movement. This mounting of the plunger 45a will permit the same to move upward relative to the plunger 45 as the plunger 45 moves downward into engagement with the bottom plunger 59, as clearly shown in Fig. 9.

As the main drive shaft I4 continues to rotate, the cam roller 50 will cause an upward movement of the cross head 44 and the cam plate I03 thereon will engage with the cam roller I02 and. rotate the circular plate TI from the position shown in Fig. 11 to the position shown in Fig. 10, this movement also moving the notch of the notched plate 15 into registry with the hole I52, so as to allow the cap or cup II9 to drop into the hole I52. Before the edge of the cut away portion IGI of the circular plate 'I'I reaches the space occupied by the upper and lower plungers 45 and 69, as viewed in Fig. 9, the cylindrical portion of the cam 5| will have engaged with the cam roller 58 to cause a downward movement of the shaft 54 and a corresponding downward movement of the bottom plunger 00 into its lowermost position or into the position shown in Fig. 8. Practically simultaneously therewith, the cam roller 50 engaging with the proper portion of the cam race 49 will cause an upward movement of the cross head 44 a sufficient distance to cause the upper plunger 45 to move into its uppermost position, or into the position shown in Fig. 8. Therefore,

there will be no conflict between the cylindrical plate 11 and either of the upper or lower plungers 45 and 69 respectively.

Assuming the device to have been constructed and arranged as above described and that it is desired to attach to the heads of the thumb tacks H9, the cups I30 of celluloid or other similar or equivalent material, the operator will place a quantity of thumb tacks in the magazine H3 and a quantity of cups I30 in the magazine I24 and will adjust the discs I48 and I49 relative to the discs III and I26 respectively so as to have the rotating portions of the magazines H3 and I24 rotate at the proper speeds and in the proper direction. Also, the driving motor 35 is adjusted on its support 36, so as to maintain the proper relation between the driving disc 33 and the driving disc 34, whereby to rotate the shaft 30 at the proper speed and to drive all parts of the mechanism, including the magazines H3 and I 24, at the proper speed. Power is then turned into an electric heater I54 through the conductors I55, the motor 35 placed in operation and the parts begin to function as above described.

Actually, the tacks II9 will be sorted out and. will be placed in the track I I8, as shown in Figs. 1, l0 and 13 and will move down the track II8 by gravity to the point shown in Fig. 11. Also, the cups I 30 will be placed in the proper position relative to the track H3 and will be forced downward therein partly by gravity and partly by air from the jets I40. As the main drive shaft I4 rotates, the circular plate 11 will have imparted thereto an oscillatory movement, taking up in the notches I16 thereof at each step a cup I30, shown in Figs, 10 and 11 and. above described with respect to the cups l3il and move to the position shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 11 where, in the manner above describedthe cups I30 are folded and secured about the peripheral edge of the tacks lit. The tacks afterwards drop through the hole I52 in the table or platen ll into any desired receptacle.

Whereas, I have described my invention by reference to specific forms thereof, it will be understood that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. An improved tack capping machine comprising, a magazine for holding a plurality of tacks, a magazine for holding a plurality of caps,

means for agitating the tacks and the caps and feeding said tacks and caps successively out of their respective magazines, a chute for receiving the tacks as fed from the tack magazine, a chute for receiving the caps as fed from-the cap magazine, and means located at the exit ends of said respective chutes for arranging the caps each with the head of a tack deposited therein.

2. An improved tack capping machine comprising a heating element; means for positioning a cap thereon, means for positioning a tack head within said cap, means for moving said cap along the surface of the heating element, and means positioned at one end of the heating element for attaching the cap to the tack.

3. An improved tack capping machine comprising a heating element, means for positioning a moldable material cap thereon at one end thereof, means for positioning the head of a tack within the cup of moldable material, means for moving a cap and associated tack along the length of the heating element at a rate which permits the softening of the moldable material of thecap, and means arranged at the other end of the heating element for crimping the skirt of the cup about the head of the tack.

4. In a tack capping machine the combination of a stationary block, a heating element associated with said block, a trackway in one face of said block and extending throughout the length on such block, means for intermittently feedingcups of moldable material throughout the length of said track, said cups each having associated therewith the head of a tack, a movable upper plunger arranged for reciprocatory movement at the exit end of the trackway, means for moving said plunger downwardly toward the trackway and maintainingsaid upper plunger in fixed relation to the trackway for a predetermined length of time, a bottom plunger and means for moving r the same upwardly toward the top plunger and under yielding pressure at the time the top plung- I er is maintained in its lowermost position, whereby said heated cap of moldable material has the peripheral skirt portion thereof rolled or crimped about the peripheral edge of the head of the tack.

5. In an improved tack capping machine, a stationary block, a trackway formed in the upper surface thereof, a bottom plunger, means for positively moving the bottom plunger downwardly with respect to the stationary block and holding its. upper end substantially coincident withthe bottom of the trackway for a predetermined length of time, means operable at the end of the predetermined time in the operation of the bottom plunger for moving the same upwardly under yielding spring pressure, a top plunger in axial alignment with the bottom plunger, means for holding the top plunger above the bottom plunger at and during the period of time when the bottom plunger is held in its lowermost position, and for positively moving the top plunger to and holding the same in its lowermost position during the period of time when the bottom plunger is moved upwardly under yielding pressure.

6. An improved tack capping machine comprising, a magazine for holding a plurality of tacks, a magazine for holding a plurality of caps, means for agitating the tacks andcaps and feeding the same out of their respective magazines, a chute for receiving the tacks as they are fed from the tack magazine, a chute for receiving the caps as they are fed from the cap magazine, means for positively feeding the caps along the length of the chute, and means located at the- 7 exit ends of the respective chutes for arranging a tack in each of the caps.

'7. An improved tack capping machine comprising, a magazine for holding a plurality of tacks, a magazine for holding a plurality of caps, means for agitating the tacks and caps and feeding the same out of their respective magazines, a chute'for receiving the tacks as they are fed from the tack magazine, a chute for receiving the caps as they are fed from the cap magazine, air pres-.

sure means for positively feeding the caps along the length of the chute and means located at the exit ends of the respective chutes for arranging a tack in each of the caps.

8. An improved capping machine comprising, means for receiving a plurality of caps in succession, means for receiving a plurality of tacks in succession and placing the same each in a separate cap, means for conditioning the caps by rendering them plastic, and means operating on such conditioned caps for, rolling or crimping the peripheral edge of the skirt portion of each cap about its. associatedv tack head.

NILS H. ANDERSON. 

